Or your expectations of him have risen and he no longer surprises you? He does go down easily at times but he still works hard and tracks back.
Sunderland are dominating our midfield. Couts needs to drop off more into a #8 role. He is better served picking a pass with space in front of him
He hasn't scored in 18 games I think now for club and country. Quite frankly he's looking like a flash in the pan. Good player but nothing revolutionary.
He certainly should be scoring more, should be getting more assists too. Worth remembering he's playing in a struggling side too though. Not sure about flash in the pan but he's not been in form lately.
Another bland performance so far ,just passing it from side to side in final 3rd with no penetration into the box.
Sunderland failed to score from our obligatory "give away a corner and fail to defend it just on the stroke of half time" ritual.
Sterling is still good. Just god a lot on shoulders, and a little overplayed. We're not behind, and I expect Sunderland to have a go, which will hopefully open up a bit of space.
This referee been ridiculous. Whistle happy for ages but then bottled it when he was needed. That with Vergini and Sterling at the end was a clear foul, Vergini sticks his knee in Sterling's thigh as Raheem is running past him. Referee not only doesn't give the fall (fair enough, it happens) but then lets Vergini get away with waving an imaginary card in his face
I think we've played alright in that first half. Games a little bit open and we need to be create more chances by playing the ball quicker but after recent weeks, its better. Problem we have is Sunderland know how to defend against us. they know what Sterling and Coutinho want to do, they know Lallana wants to pass to Lambert too. They're sitting in and letting us play in front of them knowing full well how to stop those three causing damage.
This is true. Need someone who can just bang one in from 15 yards from nothing. I expect this is why Stevie will come on. Still relying on him when he's older than Stonehenge. Embarrassing that we've never addressed that.
We can't rely on sturridge, we can't go back to being a one man team. We need to be able to play well and win without him, he will only get injured again.
I'd bring on Allen to keep possession better and get Sterling running at Vergini 1v1 as many times as possible.
